STAR Credit for New Keuka Lake Homeowners

Last reviewed: October 9, 2026. General information only, not tax advice. STAR rules, income limits, and online steps are set by the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance and can change. Check the Tax Department’s STAR pages or call the department before you rely on this.

If you just bought a home around Keuka Lake and it’s going to be your primary residence, there’s one tax task you shouldn’t put off: registering for the STAR credit. It’s a state school tax benefit that the Tax Department pays you directly each year, but only after you register. It doesn’t transfer from the seller.

This is a step-by-step walkthrough for new owners: whether you qualify, what to gather, how to register in the Homeowner Benefit Portal, what to expect on your first school tax bill, and the mistakes that trip people up. For how property taxes work around the lake in general, see our property tax and STAR guide.

The short version

New homeowners get the STAR credit, a check or direct deposit from the state. The older STAR exemption (a reduction on the school tax bill) isn’t available to new homeowners.
You register once, online, through the Tax Department’s Homeowner Benefit Portal.
Register as soon as the home becomes your primary residence.
If your first school tax bill shows a STAR exemption, that belonged to the previous owner. You still need to register.

Step 1: Check that you qualify

According to the Tax Department’s STAR eligibility page:

Ownership. The property must be owned by the eligible applicants. Corporations, partnerships, and LLCs aren’t eligible unless it’s a farm dwelling. Buyers in possession under a land contract count as owners. Homes held in certain trusts can qualify.
Primary residence. The home must be the primary residence of an eligible owner. The department looks at factors like how much time you spend there, where you’re registered to vote, and the address on your vehicle registration and government ID. It may ask for proof.
Income (Basic STAR credit). Combined income of the owners and owners’ spouses who live at the property must be $500,000 or less.
One benefit per couple. A married couple can receive only one STAR benefit, no matter how many homes they own, unless they’re legally separated.

A seasonal lake cottage that isn’t your primary residence doesn’t qualify. If you’re moving into a former second home full-time, register once it truly becomes your primary residence. See our guide to converting a seasonal cottage to year-round use.

How STAR measures income

The Tax Department defines income as federal adjusted gross income minus the taxable amount of IRA distributions. Eligibility for the 2026 benefit is based on 2024 income tax returns, so the income year runs two years behind the benefit year. The income of owners who don’t live at the property isn’t counted.

Enhanced STAR (65 and older)

Enhanced STAR is a larger benefit for seniors. At least one resident owner must be 65 or older by December 31 of the benefit year, and combined resident-owner income must be $110,750 or less for 2026 benefits and $113,550 or less for 2027 benefits. The department says you’ll automatically receive the Basic or Enhanced credit, whichever you qualify for, once you’re registered. There are also special rules for surviving spouses; see the eligibility page.

Step 2: Gather what you need

The Tax Department’s registration page lists what to have ready:

names and Social Security numbers of all owners and their spouses
the school district where the home is located (it’s on your school tax bill, or ask the town assessor)
the approximate date you bought the property
the sellers’ names (not required, but the department says it may help you get your credit before school taxes are due)
your most recent school tax bill, if you’ve received one
the address of any residential property you own in another state
the legal name of the trust, if the home is in a trust
income tax returns for all owners for the relevant year (the page currently lists 2024 returns). If you weren’t required to file, you’ll need income details such as wages, interest and dividends, pensions, Social Security, and other income.

Step 3: Register in the Homeowner Benefit Portal

The Tax Department’s instructions:

Log in to your Individual Online Services account at tax.ny.gov, or create one.
Open the ≡ Services menu in the upper left, choose Real property tax, then Homeowner Benefit Portal.
Select Register and follow the prompts for the STAR credit.
Save your confirmation number from the confirmation page or email. The department says it will need it to verify your identity if you contact it later. You can also find it on the Registration page in the portal.

Step 4: Set up payment and check the schedule

In the Homeowner Benefit Portal you can check your registration status and enroll in STAR Credit Direct Deposit; otherwise the department mails a check. The Tax Department’s STAR resource center has a STAR Credit Delivery Schedule lookup that shows when credits are issued for your area, and a Property Tax Credit Lookup to confirm whether your credit has gone out.

The department says that if you’re eligible, it issues the credit before your school tax bill is due. You use the money to help pay your school taxes; the bill itself isn’t reduced.

If you pay through escrow

If your lender pays your school taxes through an escrow account, the Tax Department suggests letting the lender know about your STAR status (it specifically mentions doing so when switching from the exemption to the credit). The credit comes to you, not the lender, and the full school tax bill still has to be paid.

Your first school tax bill

Many new owners are surprised by their first school bill in one of two ways:

It shows a STAR exemption. The Tax Department’s FAQ explains that this happens because the previous owner had the exemption, and it stayed on the property for the first year. You’re not entitled to keep it after that, and you must register for the credit to get STAR in the future.
It’s higher than the seller’s. When the seller’s exemptions (STAR, senior, veteran) drop off, the full tax shows up. Budget for that; our property tax guide explains how bills are calculated.

Deadlines

The Tax Department recommends registering as soon as possible after you move in. Its FAQ says registrations are accepted up to three years from the income tax filing deadline for the year covered by the credit; its example is that the 2024 STAR credit must be claimed by April 15, 2028. Registering late can mean waiting longer for your money.

After you register

You don’t need to register again each year. The department reviews eligibility annually and issues the credit automatically as long as you qualify.
Re-register if ownership changes, for example if you sell and buy another home, or if owners are added or removed in a way the department requires you to report. Update your registration in the portal.
Respond to letters. The department may write to ask for more information. Its STAR resource center has a “Respond to a STAR letter” section.

Other exemptions to ask about

STAR is a state program. Many other property tax exemptions are local options (senior citizen, veterans, disability, and others). Each town, county, and school district decides whether to offer them, and many have filing deadlines tied to the taxable status date. Ask your town assessor what’s available. Our property tax guide covers grievance and assessment questions.

New-owner STAR checklist

Confirm the home is your primary residence (voter registration, license, vehicle registration)
Gather Social Security numbers, school district, purchase date, sellers’ names, and income returns
Create or log in to your Individual Online Services account
Register in the Homeowner Benefit Portal
Save your confirmation number
Enroll in direct deposit
Check the STAR Credit Delivery Schedule for your area
Tell your escrow servicer, if applicable
Ask the town assessor about local exemptions

Frequently asked questions

Can I get the STAR exemption on my new house like the previous owner had?

No. The Tax Department says the STAR exemption isn’t available to new homeowners. You register for the STAR credit instead.

My first school tax bill already shows STAR. Do I still need to register?

Yes. That exemption belonged to the previous owner and stays for the first year only. Register for the credit to keep receiving a STAR benefit.

Do I have to register every year?

No. Register once. The department reviews eligibility each year and issues the credit automatically while you remain eligible.

Can I get STAR on my Keuka Lake vacation home?

No. STAR applies only to your primary residence, and a married couple can receive only one STAR benefit.

How late can I register?

The Tax Department accepts registrations for up to three years from the income tax filing deadline for the year covered by the credit. Its example: the 2024 credit must be claimed by April 15, 2028. Register as soon as you can.

Official sources

Related on Living on Keuka: Property taxes and STAR · Property taxes overview · Moving to Keuka checklist · Retiring on Keuka

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